A view of the business Fortitech Monday, May 5, 2014, in Schenectady, N.Y. A worker at Fortitech who lost his right hand in an on-the-job accident last July has now filed suit against the manufacturer of the piece of equipment on which he was injured. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A former plant worker at a Schenectady-based vitamin manufacturer is suing the company for negligence, alleging he suffered physical and mental pain and was permanently disabled after suffering a workplace injury to his hand last summer.

The suit, filed last month in State Supreme Court in Schenectady County, says Balkisoon Narine, 50, was clearing some vitamin compound stuck in the drainage box of a cylindrical plow blender with his right hand at Fortitech Inc. or DSM Nutritional Acquisitions Corp. when the machine began operating without warning.

The Schenectady man's hand was so badly mangled that July night that it had to be amputated, according to the civil action, which also names Narine's wife, Maha Narine, as a plaintiff.

The court papers indicate that American Process Systems Corp. should have known the cylindrical plow blender was improperly designed, assembled, manufactured, modified, inspected, tested and certified and that it posed a "foreseeable risk to users."

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It states that the corporation, which sold the blender to Fortitech, was "negligent and careless in the manufacture, design, assembly, modification, inspection and testing" of the blender and that among other things, failed to properly test the machine to determine when it might function in an unsafe and hazardous way, that the machine was not equipped with a brake to stop the blades from moving when the blender door was open, and that it had no emergency off switch.

The Narines, who are being represented by Anthony Murad of Utica, are seeking unspecified damages. Murad did not immediately return a call Monday seeking comment.

Fortitech, in a statement through its parent company, wished Narine a speedy recovery and rehabilitation.

"He has been a valued employee with Fortitech for two years responsible for training new production employees," said Hugh C. Welsh, president and general counsel for DSM North America. "There is no greater priority at DSM and Fortitech than assuring that every one of our employees returns home to their families every night as safe and healthy as they arrive at the workplace. This incident serves to remind us all that we must remain vigilant, disciplined and committed at all times to safety."

Fortitech, headquartered in Schenectady, blends vitamins and nutrients that enrich a wide range of foods and beverages.